I'm not sure about the turpentine, Ozzy. I will report back when I have got it. It doesn't say anything about turps it in the FPOS description (while it does in the Saphir descriptions). I see that the Boot Black wax is a discontinued line but not the cream.

When the weather is OK, here, I can use turpentine products outside. In the winter I will rely on Callonil and Woly products. That being the case, it looks like I will be using the latter products more often than not!

I cleaned these up yesterday in preparation of thinning the herd a bit. They've been boxed up for a couple of years now but cleaned up well with a bit of brushing, conditioning and wax on the toe & heel counters. Like many here, there was a time that I wanted to bull everything. I've eventually settled on a healthy-looking, conditioned, matte finish on my dress shoes but I liked how the slightly bulled toe came out on these. I thought they'd look nice in pictures with the shinier toe as I try to sell them.

Shoes are AE Westchester in walnut. Like many before them, I bought them on sale, thinking that they would stretch out a bit and feel great down the road. It may have been this purchase where I finally convinced myself that from that point forward, shoes have to fit well out of the box. I've made far fewer impulse purchases since then and my feet are thankful.

I cleaned these up yesterday in preparation of thinning the herd a bit. They've been boxed up for a couple of years now but cleaned up well with a bit of brushing, conditioning and wax on the toe & heel counters. Like many here, there was a time that I wanted to bull everything. I've eventually settled on a healthy-looking, conditioned, matte finish on my dress shoes but I liked how the slightly bulled toe came out on these. I thought they'd look nice in pictures with the shinier toe as I try to sell them.

Shoes are AE Westchester in walnut. Like many before them, I bought them on sale, thinking that they would stretch out a bit and feel great down the road. It may have been this purchase where I finally convinced myself that from that point forward, shoes have to fit well out of the box. I've made far fewer impulse purchases since then and my feet are thankful.

Those are beautiful shoes, Ben and beautifully polished and conditioned, too. Congratulations!

I notice that you use dubbin on parts of your shoes. I have often wondered about how and why dubbin is used. Can you help me on this one, Ben? With many thanks, Munky.

thank you Munky for your kind words!!!!!

As for the second one i ll try to do my best on that!!

Dubbin is made from animal fats, oils and some waxes! the main reason of why dubbin is used is for making the leather softer,more flexible and nourishes it really deep!! make the creases more smooth and if you use the right shoe trees your shoes ll look like new for long long time!! prevents to some point the leather cracking !One big advantage is that it is waterproofing to a very good level!!

i apply it most of the time with bear fingers(the only shoe product i do this) to have a better feel of how mutch i apply and working it along the creases!!

the only disadvantage of dubbin i have found(if you use it the right way ) is that if you use it for long it is darkening the color of your shoes a little bit!!

what you mean with mildly wet weather? this looks to me that these shoes have bean wet and let dry in rong position!! this looks more like water stain!!

this has happened to some of my shoes even when it isn't wet out. If my feet get sweaty this tends to happen, I think it is the salts from perspiration being transferred from the lining to the uppers. Usually happens when it is very warm and I walk a lot. Reno seems to remove it, then I condition and use cream polish. I think it is important to put in trees and let them dry a few days before you do anything to them.

this has happened to some of my shoes even when it isn't wet out. If my feet get sweaty this tends to happen, I think it is the salts from perspiration being transferred from the lining to the uppers. Usually happens when it is very warm and I walk a lot. Reno seems to remove it, then I condition and use cream polish. I think it is important to put in trees and let them dry a few days before you do anything to them.

really?? even i leave in a very hot country i have never had this issue!! i thought it was salt from watter!!!